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But the LORD is in 
his holy temple; 
let all the earth 
keep silence 
before him.”
 
Habakkuk 2:20

Let us bless the light
The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord arrives 40 days after Christmas on February 2. On this day we remember and celebrate Christ's presentation in the temple and the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy: “And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.” (Malachi 3:1 )
 
At Christ's presentation, the righteous and devout Simeon recognizes the infant Jesus as the promised messiah and praises God that his eyes have seen salvation, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:32)
 
Advent, which begins with the successive lighting of candles as we watch for inbreaking light of Christ, culminates on February 2 as we celebrate the Light of the World arriving in his temple.
Pray
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer
Bless
The Feast of the Presentation is also known as Candlemas. As the “light for revelation to the Gentiles,” Jesus is often celebrated this day by blessing all of a church’s candles for the coming year.  In some traditions, families even bring their own candles from home to be blessed by a priest. If your local church doesn’t bless candles on Candlemas, bless your candles as a family at home! (Liturgy Below)
 
By the act of blessing something, we consecrate it as holy unto the Lord. In this blessing, we ask the Lord to make our light holy that he might shine through our hearts and our homes in the coming year.
 
Liturgy for Blessing the Candles
Materials needed: new taper candles to burn during your family’s prayer and/or meal times for the coming year.
Everyone speaks the words in bold.
 
Our help is the name of the Lord:
The maker of heaven and earth.
Nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
 
Let us pray.
Loving God who called forth light at the beginning of creation, bless these candles that they may faithfully give light to your people. Let the hearts and minds of all who enter our home be illumined by the true light of the world. Grant that the light of Christ, once kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives that your glory may be revealed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. 
 

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